Preformed structural frame package



y 1968 s. L. MARCOTT 3,381,815

PREPORMED STRUCTURAL FRAME PACKAGE Filed May 10, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Gordon L. Marcoff ATTORNEYS y 7, 1968 G. L. MARCOTT 3,381,815

PREPORMED STRUCTURAL FRAME PACKAGE Filed May 10, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 53 II I Ti q..8 F5 .9

INVENTOR. Gordon L. Marcorr ATTOR N EYS 7, 1968 G. MARCOTT PREFORMED STRUCTURAL FRAME PACKAGE 5 Sheets-$heet 3 Filed May 10, 1965 INVENTOR Gordon L. Marco Vail M 5 %&

ATTORNEYS 3,381,815 PREFORMED STRUCTURAL FRAME PACKAGE Gordon L. Marcott, Denver, Colo., assignor to Transworld Enterprise Development, Ltd., Nassau, Bahamas, a corporation of the Bahamas Filed May 10, 1965, Ser. No. 454,259 3 Claims. (Cl. 206--65) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A package for transportation to the point of use of a series of frame units, containing a plurality of pairs of components in stacked relation, both side by side and atop one another, with straps or hands around the components, to clamp them together. One component of each pair includes the first of a pair of duplicate legs, which are inwardly inclined at each side of the frame unit when installed, with a first cross brace attached to the upper end of the leg by the same bolt by which it is attached to the leg in the frame unit and disposed longitudinally on the leg, and a beam which spans the legs at the midpoint thereof and attached to the first leg at the same position and by the same bolt as when installed, but disposed longitudinally along the first leg and away from the cross brace. The other component of each pair includes the second leg and the opposite cross brace, attached to the end of the second leg at the same position and with the same bolt as when assembled, and a spacer block which is installed between the duplicate shorter braces, but attached to the second leg by the bolt which attaches the opposite end of the beam to the second leg.

This invention relates to frames for the construction of buildings, and more especially to such frames, the parts of which are shipped to the point of use, and particularly to a frame which is palletized for shipment.

Among the objects of this invention are to provide a novel structural frame; to provide such a frame which is amenable to prefabrication in preferred sizes and facilitates erection at the site of use, as by unskilled labor; to provide a novel and improved structural frame which is suited directly to receive and support various types and arrangements of building defining enclosures; to provide such a frame which comprises a plurality of like complementary units cooperable in spacedly parallel succession and aligned array; to provide such a frame so constituted that a plurality of like complementary units may be prefabricated in multiple disassembly and also facilitates palletizing, for expedient transport to and individual integration at the side of use, being especially adapted for prefabrication as disjoined components organized for convenient and simple subsequent conjunction; and to provide such a frame which is prefabricated as disjoined components especially adapted for compact packaging in multiple and subsequent unit constituting conjunction at the site of use.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and operative combination of features and elements as hereinafter described, pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram isometrically exemplifying a structural framework in accordance with the principles of the invention, formed from a plurality of frame units primary to the concept and practice of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, detail section. on a considerably enlarged scale and taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a condensed top plan view, on a. scale enlarged with respect to FIG. 1, of one component of a States Patent 3,381,815 Patented May 7, 1968 frame unit of FIG. 1 in prefabricated condition for packaging and transport, but arranged to simplify its ultimate use;

FIG. 4 is a condensed side elevation of the component shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a condensed top plan view, similar to FIG. 3, of a second component of the frame unit, in prefabricated condition for packaging and transport and cooperable with the component of FIGS. 3 and 4 for ultimate use;

FIG. 6 is a condensed side elevation of the component of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view, on a scale reduced slightly relative to FIGS. 3-6, of a compact, practical package resulting from assembly and p-alletizing six of the frame units of FIG. 1 ad utilizing the components of FIGS. 36;

FIG. 8 is a transverse section, on an enlarged scale and taken along line 88 of the package of FIG. 7; and,

FIG. 9 is a transverse section, similar to FIG. 8, but taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 7.

Well recognized considerations of practicality and economy have fostered and justified the practice of prefabrication in application to the construction and erection of buildings intended for various uses at all manner of sites. Incident to the benefits of prefabrication, as conventionally practiced, are the persistent corollaries 0f frequently immoderate prefabrication expense, inexpediencies and expense of bulk handling and transportation of prefabricated units, and a very usual need for skilled, or semi-skilled labor, to accomplish assembly of the prefabricated structure, any and all of which may onerously complicate the operations and increase the expense of intended construction, especially when the site of erection is difiicult of access, remote from supplies of trained labor, and possibly in primitive, underdeveloped areas served only by air or sea transport. In extension of the advantages and in resolution of some, at least, of the inadequacies of conventional prefabrication practices, the instant invention is hence directed to the provision of a novel and improved structural frame amenable to inexpensive production, convenient and economical transportation, and erection by untrained labor for the completion of buildings of various preferred sizes and utilitarian adaptations at selected sites, irrespective of site location and environment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the concept of the structural improvement is exemplified in an array of like, self bra'ced, frame units U having, in general, an M-shape, arranged in spaced parallelism and aligned in succession to determine and support the exterior walls .and roof of a building of desired capacity and dimensions, as well as supporting an interior portion of the building. Thus, a feature of the exemplary organization is its faculty of accommodating a two-story character for the building, completed on and about the so correlated frame units U, including the support of the floor for a second story, as in a manner explained below. The frame units U may be supported by a foundation, as of a rough character, but are particularly adapted to be supported by the outside members of a floor joist framework on which the floor of the first story is laid. Prefabricated outer wall panels, of a size to extend between adjacent frame uni-ts, are conveniently attached to the outer sides of the frame units U, while prefabricated roof panels may similarly be attached to and extend along the tops of the frame assembly. Prefabricated front and rear wall panels may, of course, be attached to the front and rear of the frame assembly, with provision for doors and windows, with the outer side panels also being provided with window frames. Since the exterior panels, both side and front or rear walls and roof, will generally be of uniform size and also flat, the problem of packaging by palletizing such members for shipment is not acute.

For realization of the purposes and attainment of the advantages distinguishing the invention, the frame units U are ingeniously prefabricated, as paired sub-assembly components arranged for ready, unit completing conjunction at the time and site of intended use, such as the component of FIGS. 3 and 4 as one component and the component of FIGS. 5 and 6 as the other component, as will hereinafter appear. Appropriately and identically sized to establish the width and height of the desired building, the frame units U are preformed in a number determinable of the length of the building and each comprises but six members designed for economical production by simple cutting operations from lengths of suitable, uniform size material, to be intercoupled for use by seven fasteners, such as bolt-s. Manifestly, any material having the requisite properties of strength, rigidity and conformation may be utilized for production of the frame unit members, but considerations of cost, availability, weight, workability, and ultimate association commend as most practical for such purpose the conventionally dimensioned structural timbers in common supply, and the invention is hence illustrated and described with referen'ce to wood as the material preferred for the frame unit members.

As shown in FIG. 1, each frame unit U comprises a pair of identical legs 10 and 11, respectively, extending upwardly and inwardly at opposite sides; a pair of identical, short braces or headers 12 and 13, respectively, extending slightly downwardly from the upper end of each leg to a lower position on the opposite leg; and a beam 14, which is also adapted to be utilized as a floor joist for the second story and extends horizontally between legs 10 and 11 at the medial position. Since braces 12 and 13 are placed on opposite sides of legs 10 and 1-1, a spacing block 15 is interposed therebetween at the centers thereof and is conveniently rhombic in shape to correspond to the inclination of the respective braces 12 and 13. Each of the above parts may be cut from timber of the same transverse conformation and dimension, but differ in length and angle of terminal cuts. The lower ends of legs 10 and 11 may be cut square across, or may be cut at an angle corresponding to the horizontal when installed. The upper end of each brace 12 and 13 is square to correspond to the upper end of the corresponding leg, While the lower end of each brace is cut at an angle to correspond to the inclination of the corresponding leg 10 or 11 upon installation. Similarly, the ends of beam 14 are cut at an angle corresponding to the inclination of the legs 10 and 11. Holes for the respective bolts or other suitable fastening devices are drilled in the various members at appropriate positions, such as shown. These fastening devices, exemplified as bolts, include bolts 16 attaching the upper ends of the respective legs 10 and 11 to the upper ends of braces 12 and 13, respectively, and bolts 17 attaching the opposite ends of the braces to the respective legs, as well as bolts 18 attaching the ends of beam 14 to the respective legs. As in FIG. 2, a bolt 19 attaches braces 12 and 13 together and extends through. spacing block 15 to clamp the latter in place. Bolt 19 is provided with a nut 20, with a washer beneath the head of the bolt and also beneath the nut, while similar nuts and washers are provided for other bolts. Since bolts 16, 17 and 18 each pass through two thicknesses, they may all be the same length, while bolt 19, which passes through three thicknesses, is longer. As will be evident, the cross braces 12 and 13, as well as beam 14, securely anchor the legs 10 and 11 to resist a downward load as well as lateral deformation.

Significant to the utility and practical advantage of the frame unit comprised and organized as just discussed is the ingenious specificity of structure design and correlation adapting the unit for partial assembly and compact packaging in multiple where and as produced and for convenient, simple, final assembly at the site of use. Consequential to the proportions and relationships hereinbefore detailed, the six members and each of the bolts 16 and 18 requisite for assembly of one of the frame units U may be preassembled to constitute two similar, elongated components generally transversely rectangular and amenable to being stacked in multiple as a package suited for handling and transport, characterized by an advantageously high Weight to volume ratio, thus leaving for separate packaging in available association with each complete frame unit but the two bolts 17 and the one longer bolt 19. As indicated previously and shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, one component is formed by leg 10 to which brace 12 is attached by a bolt 16, in the same holes used in final assembly, with brace 12 extending longitudinally along the leg, so that upon final assembly, bolt 16 need merely be loosened to permit the brace to be swung across to the opposite leg and then retightened. Similarly, the same end of beam 14, as is attached to leg 10 in the final assembly, is attached to leg 10 by the same bolt 18 which. is in the same holes, but with beam 14 extending longitudinally along the leg and slightly past the lower end thereof. As will be evident, on final assembly, bolt 18 is loosened, then beam 14 swung across to the opposite leg and bolt 18 retightened. The other component, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, includes leg 11 to the end of which will be the upper end of the final assembly, is attached the opposite brace 13, to extend longitudinally thereof and attached by the same bolt 16 and in the same holes which this bolt 16 Will occupy in the final assembly. On final assembly, this bolt 16 is merely loosened and brace 13 swung to the opposite leg, then bolt 16 is retightened. The second bolt 18 is placed in the hole to which the free end of beam 14, on the first component, is to be attached and utilized to clamp rhombic block 15 to the leg. As will be evident, for final assembly, it is necessary only to remove the nut from bolt 18 of FIGS. 5 and 6, then remove block 15, since bolt 18 can remain in the hole in leg 11 until the free end of beam 14 is swung over onto it, after which the not can be replaced and the bolt tightened. As will be evident, each bolt in each of the components remains in place, while each of the braces 12 and 13 and beam 14 is attached to a leg at the precise position required for final assembly. Thus, the block 15 is the only part which is removed from a component for final assembly. As will be evident, the assembly operation is thus so simplified that unskilled labor can readily accomplish it.

The two frame components, as will be evident, have the same thickness and width and are similar in length, differing only in the slight overhang of the end of beam 14 from leg 10. Thus, the two frame unit components, preassembled to include all six of the frame members and four of the seven bolts required to complete one frame unit U, are readily paired in side-to-side contact and registration of their like ends for inclusion in a multiple pack P of their counterparts characterized, as in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, by direct edge contact of coplanar components and a registered stacking, with the aid of separator strips 25, of superposed components. Strips 25, conveniently also formed of wood, serve to provide clearance for the projections of the bolts and are preferably placed at or adjacent each end of the legs, at the free ends of braces 12 and 13 and at the position of blocks 15, which corresponds to the inner ends of beams 14. At the end of the package, corresponding to the lower ends of the legs, small filler blocks 26, as of wood, may also be stacked between legs 11 in the same column, as in FIG. 9, so that the package may be securely held by straps 27, such as conventional metal strapping, which is omitted in FIGS. 8 and 9 for clarity of illustration. Heavier strips or bars 28 are placed on the outside, i.e., across the top and bottom of the package as shown, at

the position of each series of separation strips 25, so that straps 27 will tightly clamp the package at each position.

Variable at option to include the components for any desired number of the frame units U, the pack P illustrated comprises twelve components, sufiicient to complete six frame units U, and is consolidated as a unitary package by straps 27 or any other effective tensioning means extending transversely thereabout at spaced positions, to secure the pack firmly for expedient handling and transport. Feasible for manipulation by conventional handling facilities and compact in a space saving conformation, the unitary package typified in FIG. 7 qualifies for economical shipment to the site of intended frame unit use. Also, similar packages will stow in endwise relation through interlocking of the projecting ends of beams 14 with reversely disposed, end abutted and coaligned packages, with further conservation of space.

When received at the side of use, together with the requisite additional bolts 18 and 19, a supply of paired frame unit components is readily and quickly resolved into frame units U, so as to be ready for erection, the necessary operations being few, simple and essentially obvious from the previous description. When so assembled and placed in spaced, parallel relation and aligned registration, to extend vertically in a desired number from a suitable base area, an array of the frame units U provides conformation and support for a building formed thereon and as an enclosure therefor by any expedient means applied in any feasible manner, it being a simple matter of ordinary skill to supply doors and windows interrupting the enclosure where the beams 14 establish a supporting plane, and to finish the top of the enclosure at and over the narrow upper ends of the frame units U as a peaked ridge extension, a substantially flat deck, or a shallow trough reflecting the slope of the crossed braces 12 and 13. Manifestly, the lower, divergent ends of the frame unit struts may be conditioned to carry, attach to, or engage with foundations, bearing shoes, posts, pilings, and the like, all of which is within the purview of the known art and so diverse within the range of ordinary skill as to preclude occasion for elaboration herein.

It will be understood that changes, variations and modifications in the form, specific construction and precise arrangement of the elements and features shown and described may be had without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A package for transportation to the site of use of a series of frame units, for erection to provide a series of frame units each including duplicate, inwardly inclined legs at each side, duplicate shorter braces transversely identical with said legs and attached in crossed relation with the upper ends of said legs and intercoupling the latter in a symmetrical pattern, a longer beam attached at each end to the approximate mid-length of each said leg and spanning between said legs parallel to a line common to the lower ends of said legs, a spacer block transversely coextensive with said braces and clamped in marginal alignment with and between the crossing of said braces, each end of each said cross brace and said beam being attached to said legs by transverse, bolt-like fastening devices and said spacer block being clamped between said cross braces by a transverse, boltlike fastening device, said legs, beam, cross braces and spacer block being provided with holes for said fastening devices, said package comprising:

a plurality of pairs of components disposed in stacked relation, both side by side and atop one another;

one component of each pair including one of said legs, the cross brace which is attached to the upper end of said leg in said frame unit and end attached to said leg at the same end and by the same fastening device as in said unit, but extending longitudinally along said leg, and said beam attached to said leg at the same position as in said unit and by the same fastening device, but extending longitudinally along said leg and away from said cross brace;

the other component of each pair including the opposite leg, the opposite cross brace end attached to the end of said leg at the same position and by the same fastening device of the assembled unit, but extending longitudinally along said leg, and said spacer block attached to said leg at the same position as and by the same fastening device which, in said frame unit, attaches the opposite end of said beam to said opposite leg; and

means extending transversely around said components for clamping the same together.

2. A package, as defined in claim 1, including a series of transversely disposed spacing strips between the layers of said components, for providing clearance for said fastening devices.

3. A package, as defined in claim 2, including bars disposed transversely across said package at opposite positions corresponding to said spacing strips, including positions centrally and adjacent each end of said legs; and strapping engaging said bars and extending around said package.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 217,748 7/1879 Russell 206-46 368,844 8/ 1887 McCormick 52---90 1,232,168 7/1917 Aronson 52-90 1,624,949 4/1927 Hintz 206- 2,665,951 1/1954 Bobst 182--178 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,363 2/ 1915 Great Britain. 27,240 12/ 1911 Great Britain.

MARTHA L. RICE, Primary Examiner. FRANK L. ABBOTT, Examiner.

I. L. RIDGILL, Assistant Examiner. 

